March 14, 2013

You Know What it's Like to Have the "Winter Blues"?

A Seasonal Funk

A seasonal funk that seems like something
you have to just tough out? I remember when I was a freshman at the University
of Chicago, the sun didn't come out between October and April of the next year!
Everything was gray. Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that
occurs at the same time every year. For most people with SAD, symptoms start in
the fall and may continue into the winter months, sapping energy and causing
moodiness. Then the symptoms go away during the sunnier days of spring and
summer.

The Specific Causes are Still Unknown

While the specific cause is unknown,
genetics, age, and the body's natural chemical makeup all play a role in
developing the condition. Specific factors include the body's circadium rhythm
(sleep/wake cycle), reduced serotonin levels due to reduced sunlight, and changed
melatonin levels. All these factors may lead to feelings of depression.

When to see a doctor: while it's
normal to have "down days", if the feeling persists for days at a
time, getting motivated is difficult, sleep or eating patterns change, there
are feelings of hopelessness, or you find yourself turning to alcohol for
comfort or relaxation, see your doctor.

A thorough evaluation will rule out
underlying physical conditions. Light therapy phototherapy is one of the first
line treatments for SAD. By sitting a
few feet from and being exposed to a specialized bright light that mimics
outdoor light, there is a change in brain chemicals linked to mood. It generally starts working in two to four
days and causes few side effects, and is effective for most people in relieving
seasonal effective disorder symptoms.